After losing their first five games of the season, the New York Mets were determined to flip the script. In the second game of their doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, the Mets went with Jose Buttó as their starter. Despite being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on short notice as the team’s 27th man, Buttó set the tone in a major way.
He acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his role on the team after the game, stating that he’ll be prepared for any opportunity that comes his way in the future.
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“I’m available for whatever this team needs,” Butto said. “I’m not going to hold my head because of the circumstances. I’m going to be positive, I’m going to go out there to compete to the best of my ability and that’s what I’m going to do. Whenever the team needs me, I’ll be ready.”
Even though Buttó did not break camp with the Mets, he had a very productive spring, allowing only one run in 10 innings. So, the fact that he continues to display a positive, team-first attitude is significant because he certainly deserves to be on a major league roster.
During spring training, at the height of the competition for the final rotation spot, manager Carlos Mendoza made it a point to vocalize his support for Buttó.
“I’ve been very pleased not only with the way he’s thrown the ball, but the type of person Butto is,” Mendoza said. “He knows he belongs at this level.”
Buttó lived up to the high praise from Mendoza by demonstrating resiliency in the second inning on Thursday. After issuing a walk to Colt Keith, Buttó allowed him to advance to third on a stolen base attempt as the throw from catcher Omar Narváez went awry. Consequently, former Mets shortstop Javier Báez cashed in with an RBI single into center field. Despite this, Buttó was able to escape the inning without allowing any further damage.
Following that troublesome frame, it was all smooth sailing for Buttó. He pitched for four more innings, allowing only one more hit and striking out three more batters in the process.
Buttó’s final line: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
The solid pitching did not stop there either.
Reed Garrett, who was also recently recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, entered a one-run contest in the seventh inning. With a depleted bullpen after the first game of the doubleheader, the Mets desperately needed Garrett to give them multiple innings.
Like Buttó, Garrett rose to the occasion in a big way. In fact, his first two innings were highly impressive with only one hit allowed and three strikeouts.
He ran into some trouble, however, in the top of the ninth inning after issuing a walk to Riley Greene and a single to Keith. This situation became more adverse when Garrett threw a wild pitch that allowed the two runners to advance into scoring position. After some members of the Mets’ staff came out of the dugout to check on Garrett for a potential injury, he bounced back by striking out Zach McKinstry to end the threat.
Garrett’s final line: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Although the Mets’ offense was anemic until their walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth inning, Buttó and Garrett put them in a position to win the game when they needed it the most.
Their combined line: 9 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K
Overall, these performances bode well for Buttó and Garrett, two players who are looking to gain stability at the MLB level. In Buttó’s case, this impressive showing should place him next in line to fill the void that has resulted from Tylor Megill’s early-season injury. Garrett’s path may not be as clear as the bullpen is already overcrowded, but his outing certainly will not harm his chances at a more prominent role in the wake of another injury.
